Language Skills for Building Business ... - IATEFL BESIG

Language Skills for

Building Business Relationships

I’m a locubrevisphobe

Latin: ‘locu’ – talk, ‘brevis’ - small

BESIG Conference 2013 Gabrielle Jones

1. Why focus on relationship-building?

2. What we can say

3. What we can do

4. How we can listen


Some people are just born to be great communicators. Either you have it, or you don't.

Experts don’t need to build rapport.



1

• Markets open

• React to signals

2

• Create solutions

• Forge alliances

3

• Staff value position

• Team synergy

Think of people you get on with, who are friends – what makes you enjoy spending time with them?

Think of people you haven’t jelled with – what didn’t you enjoy?


Liking

Commitment

Authority

Scarcity

Social proof

Reciprocity


• Speech patterns

• Body language

• Vocabulary style or choice of words

• Pace, tempo, pitch, tone, volume


Prof. Richard Wiseman

(1)Positive reinforcement vs. (2)Mirroring

1. really, great, good

2. repeated order

Mirroring - 70% larger tip!!!


a. Start a conversation with a partner – change the topic as often as you feel appropriate

b. While talking, try mirroring your partner (voice, gestures, language)


Me: I‘m going to Portugal next week!

St.: Ah ha….

Me: I‘m going to Portugal next week!

St.: Are you? Where exactly?


1. I used to live in Spain.

2. I drive a Hyundai.

3. I‘m allergic to kiwi fruit.

1. Did you? Why did you move?

2. Do you? Does it use much fuel?

3. Are you? How did you find out?


A: Comment B: Short question PLUS follow up question

“all communication other than language” (Andersen, 1999)

• Gestures and touch

• Body language and posture

• Physical distance

• Facial expression

• Eye contact

• Non-verbal elements of speech – pitch, volume, rate, stress


Student A

Think of something which you did – something fun you tried, somewhere interesting you visited, a funny story you heard…

Make a few mental notes about it, then tell your partner all about it for 2 minutes


Student B

When your partner tells you about something which happened to them recently, do not react! Don’t make eye contact, don’t move your head or body, no smiling and absolutely no talking!


Pay attention

Hold judgement

Reflect

Clarify

Summarize

SHARE


Minimal Encouragements – mmm, ah

Paraphrasing – so what you’re saying is…

Emotion Labeling – I see

Mirroring (or Reflecting) – China?

Open-Ended Questions – What do you do?

Effective Pauses ….


A: Your boss has told you that you have to work later for the third time in a fortnight. No one else can cover for you, and you need the money, but you’re really worn out.

B: Be an active listener!


1. Be aware of how important relationship building strategies are

2. Discuss these with your learners

3. Incorporate them into transactional simulations…

4. …as often as possible!


It’s been lovely talking to you… Do keep in touch:

Email me: [email protected]

Tweet me: @gjteacher

Visit me: www.businessenglishexperience.com


References Andersen, P.A. (1999). Nonverbal communication: Forms and functions. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Co.

Gregerson, T (2007) Language learning beyond words: Incorporating body language into classroom activities. Reflections on English Language Teaching (6:1)

Knapp and Hall (2006) Nonverbal communication in human interaction

Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth

Wiseman, R. (2008) Quirkology: How we discover the big truths in small things, Basic Books UK


Language Skills for Building Business ... - IATEFL BESIG

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